Hey man, welcome! There are tons of spots to go around here, but for the most diverse selection and sheer volume of trails I'd definitely recommend Stewart State Forest just off Exit 5A from I-84. If you are coming from Dutchess that would be about 10 minutes past the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. There are fire roads, wide beginner type trails and some amazing single track and technical trails. You can ride this place for an entire day and not scratch the surface.

The sparc tour is an excellent introduction to stewart. I've been riding there for a dozen years now and sometimes the sparc tours take me on a trail I never knew existed or on old ones I'd forgotten about. At over 5000 acres of a vast spiderweb of trails you'll want to ride with a group, or bring a map or gps.